The European Commission encourages the participation of youngsters with fewer opportunities or disadvantaged backgrounds:
Disabilities: mental (intellectual, cognitive, learning), physical, sensory or other disabilities
Health problems: chronic health problems, severe illnesses or psychiatric conditions
Educational difficulties: learning difficulties, early schoolleavers, lower qualifications, poor school performance
Cultural differences: first or second generation immigrants, refugees, ethnic minorities...
Economic obstacles: low standard of living, low income, dependence on social welfare system, young people in long-term unemployment or poverty, homeless, in debt or with financial problems
Social obstacles: discrimination because of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, (ex-)offenders, (ex-)drug or alcohol abusers, young and/or single parents, orphans
Economic obstacles: low standard of living, low income, dependence on social welfare system, young people in long-term unemployment or poverty, homeless, in debt or with financial problems
Geographical obstacles: young people from remote or rural areas, small islands, less serviced areas
Discrimination: discrimination linked to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, or intersectional factors ..